Mox Spotlight December: Staff Picks
  • Dec 1st 2023
  • Posted by Chris Cornejo

Mox Spotlight December: Staff Picks

Time flies when you’re having fun, and since we’re all about fun it turns out it’s already December! We’re going to switch things up a little for this holiday season, and rather than pick a publisher to highlight, we’ve asked your friendly local Mox team members to pick their favorite games to feature. As always, you can get 10% off all these titles this month and given how varied your local Mox workers' tastes are, you’ll be able to find something here for everyone on your list!

Expeditions - Ironclad (Recommended by James at Mox Seattle)

60-90 minutes | 1-5 Players | 14+

Go on a thrilling journey with 'Expeditions,' set in the Scythe universe, exploring Siberia after a meteorite crash near the Tunguska River. Led by Dr. Tarkovsky, expeditions unravel ancient corruption in the taiga. Heroes privately fund Siberian quests, seeking artifacts and glory. This competitive, card-driven game allows strategic card use, mech movement, and worker employment for exploration. With 5 mech miniatures, 20 tiles, 100+ cards, worker meeples, and a solo mode, 'Expeditions' promises an immersive gaming experience, weaving tales of discovery and triumph in the Siberian wilderness.

Wingspan (Recommended by Amanda and Brandon at Mox Portland)

45-90 minutes | 1-5 Players | 10+

Take a captivating avian adventure with 'Wingspan.' As bird enthusiasts, players strategically extend powerful bird combinations across diverse habitats, using custom dice to gather food tokens, laying colorful egg miniatures, and playing unique bird cards. In this delightful and strategic tabletop experience, reminiscent of titles like Terraforming Mars and Gizmos, the player with the highest points after four rounds emerges as the true birdwatching champion.

Burning Wheel (Recommended by Erik at Mox Bellevue)

Variable Playtime | 2-6 Players | 14+

Burning Wheel, an award-winning fantasy RPG, features vibrant characters driven by their beliefs. With a simple D6 dice pool, it seamlessly develops core concepts, offering dramatic systems for resolution, advancement, belief trials, nerve tests, and more. Player decisions shape outcomes, with consequences and ramifications for every step. The character creation system delves into the character’s past, ethics, beliefs, scars, goals, and dreams, influencing both the individual and the overall story. Presented in an accessible writing style, Burning Wheel, accompanied by designer insights, has the power to transform your approach to roleplaying games.

Thirsty Sword Lesbians (Recommended by Lia at Mox Seattle)

2-4 hours | 3-6 Players | 14+

Experience a world where sword duels can culminate in unexpected kisses, where witches draw power from fostering love, and entire campaigns revolve around wandering matchmakers navigating diverse systems. Thirsty Sword Lesbians offers a unique roleplaying game platform for crafting queer narratives with friends. Dive into a realm filled with angsty disaster lesbians wielding swords, creating an ideal space for those seeking captivating and inclusive storytelling. If you're drawn to the allure of adventurous tales and the complexity of queer relationships, Thirsty Sword Lesbians is the perfect destination to explore and create unforgettable stories with friends.

Pirate Borg (Recommended by Kamee and Zoe at Mox Bellevue)

Variable Playtime | 3+ Players | 14+

Pirate Borg, a scurvy-ridden RPG inspired by Mörk Borg, blending history, fantasy, horror, and rum in a rules-light, art-heavy adventure. Compatible with Mörk Borg, it doubles as a versatile toolkit for any tabletop RPG. The d20-based mechanics involve rolling 3d6 for core stats, with modifiers challenging Difficulty Ratings. Player-facing rolls add energy, with cutlasses and flintlocks facing skeletons and ghost ships. Pirate Borg offers a unique experience, where players roll for attack and dodge in melee combat, eliminating the need for the gamemaster to roll dice in melee combat.

Spirit Island (Recommended by Jacob at Mox Portland)

90-120 minutes | 1-4 Players | 13+

Spirit Island, an award-winning cooperative strategy game by R. Eric Reuss, immerses 1 to 4 players in an alternate-history world. As powerful spirits defending their island home, players confront colonizing Invaders spreading Blight and destruction. Collaborating with fellow Spirits and the Dahan (local islanders), players strive to increase their power and expel the invaders in this deep and complex area-control game. Spirit Island offers a thrilling, cooperative gaming experience where strategic collaboration is key to overcoming the challenges posed by the encroaching colonists.

Fit to Print (Recommended by Kamee and Xander at Mox Bellevue and Seattle)

15-30 minutes | 1-6 Players | 10+

Embark on a whimsical journey with 'Fit To Print,' a tile-laying game designed by Peter McPherson in the charming woodland world of Thistleville by Ian O’Toole. As a newspaper editor, collect tiles to craft the perfect front page, stacking strategically on your desk. With 100+ tiles, 6 characters, and 3 Breaking News decks, each playthrough offers a fresh spatial puzzle. In real-time, shout 'Layout!' to place centerpieces, articles, photos, and ads. Alternative modes like Slo-Mode and Puzzle Mode cater to various puzzle preferences. Whether solo or with up to 6 players, 'Fit to Print' promises an engaging experience helping Thistleville's critters share their tales!

Shatterpoint (Recommended by Tyler and Nick at Mox Seattle and Bellevue)

90 minutes | 2 Players | 14+

Enter the Star Wars universe with Shatterpoint, a captivating miniatures skirmish game. Featuring iconic characters from across the galaxy, players collect, assemble, and paint squads of heroes, villains, and allies, engaging in strategic duels for battlefield control. With dynamic fights between key characters and a unique combat system, Shatterpoint offers 16 characters to build squads, along with terrain for immersive battlefields. The set includes cards, dice, movement tools, and accessories for tactical combat, providing an exciting tabletop experience for Star Wars enthusiasts.

Here to Slay (Recommended by Sam and Steve at Mox Seattle and Bellevue)

30-60 minutes | 2-6 Players | 10+

Step into the whimsical world of competitive role-playing with 'Here to Slay,' the latest creation from the minds behind Unstable Unicorns. This fantasy strategy card game invites players to assemble a formidable party of heroes and embark on a quest to slay dangerous monsters, all while navigating the potential sabotage of cunning foes. Dive into the adventure with equipped items, engage in thrilling 1V1 challenges, and use roll modifiers to tip the odds in your favor. 'Here to Slay' combines strategic gameplay with playful sabotage, offering a dynamic and entertaining experience for players seeking a unique blend of fantasy and competition.

Tapestry (Recommended by Jayme and Amanda at Mox Portland)

90-120 minutes | 1-5 Players | 12+

'Tapestry' is a captivating civilization-building game where players craft distinctive stories from humankind's dawn to the distant future. Deviating from real-world events, each playthrough is unique. Starting with nothing, players progress along four tracks—science, technology, exploration, and military—unlocking potent benefits. Whether focusing or balancing, players enhance income, construct cities, leverage abilities, accumulate points, and acquire tapestry cards to chronicle their civilization's story. 'Tapestry' promises an immersive gaming experience where every decision shapes your civilization's unique history.


All of these wonderful titles are 10% off through the month of December, so now’s the time to grab them, whether for yourself or a handy holiday gift! Don't forget to check out our Holiday Plans and stop by for Find the Meeple or to donate to our giving trees. And make sure to sign up for our newsletter for regular updates on upcoming sales, events and news.

- See you at Mox!